Bubble Bobble 4 Friends

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is another entry in the classic Bubble Bobble franchise, which originally appeared in arcades in the late 1980s. Starring two cutesy dragons on an adventure through a fantasy world, the Bubble Bobble series has always been simple and tons of fun. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends attempts to bring back that classic arcade feel, offering dozens of levels of bubble-blowing action. In addition to the shiny new graphics, Bubble Bubble 4 Friends also introduces four-player co-op, allowing you and three friends to brave the journey together. Whether you're a fan of the original arcade game or simply looking for a fun and easy game to play with your pals, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a great choice.

Main Game Features

• 4-player local co-op
• 5 distinct worlds to complete
• Includes the full original 1986 arcade game

Story

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a whimsical fantasy game that takes place in a young child's bedroom late at night. When a magical force causes all of the child's toys to come to life, a neglected toy named Bonner becomes upset at his lowly standing.

In an effort to assert his dominance, Bonner challenges the child's favorite toy, a dragon named Bub, to a bubble-blowing battle. Either solo or with his friends by his side, Bub must travel through five worlds, each themed after various parts of the child's bedroom. You'll battle in a train set, hop around outer space, and much more. Although the storytelling and plot is light, it's a fun and imaginative premise that works well.

Gameplay

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends plays a lot like the original arcade game, with players jumping around small levels, attempting to defeat every enemy on the board. There are 50 levels in total, split into five worlds, and each world ends with an exciting boss fight. You can play the game either solo or with up to four friends, with each player selecting one of the four playable dragon characters. Each character has the same exact moves, letting you jump and blow bubbles at enemies. Once you've captured an enemy within a bubble, you simply have to pop them. If you pop a bunch of enemy bubbles at once, you'll gain a combo, increasing your high score.

As you complete worlds, you'll also unlock bonus goodies, including some wicked power-ups. These power-ups can be used a handful of times in each stage, giving you the upper hand if things get out of control. Once you finish the entire game, you'll unlock Hard Mode, which adds a dash of challenge to the experience. Although the level design is the same in Hard Mode, enemies are tougher and have more damaging attacks, providing a nice level of difficulty. The game also includes the original Bubble Bobble arcade game from 1986, which provides 100 levels of more bubble madness.

Conclusion

In the world of 80s arcade games, Bubble Bobble is easily one of the most satisfying and colorful games there are. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends does a good job recreating that classic gameplay feel while also providing a modern touch. The 3D graphics look crisp, the extra power-ups are fun to use, and the inclusion of the original arcade game adds some significant replayability.

Pros

• Simple controls and concept
• Satisfying co-op gameplay
• Lots of content

Cons

• Lack of new features
• Slightly repetitive
• The base difficulty is very easy